Theme of Time in "Babylon Revisited"

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In Babylon Revisited by F Scott Fitzgerald time is used to reinforce his theme of one’s past being inescapable. Through time it is seen where the main character Charlie’s past comes to haunt him in his present. References are made in time flying by and being lost due to the past indiscretions. Babylon Revisited is one of the most analyzed literary works. Many have torn the piece into bits to decipher the underlying meaning of Fitzgerald’s writing. His theme of the past being inescapable is one that is intriguing and used often in his works. Brian Sutton in his literary analysis article in the Explicator shows that Fitzgerald’s use of time is in other works as well such as The Great Gatsby. In Babylon Revisited one finds a troubled man longing to possess the things he lost in the past. He lost what he thought he once wanted to hide, only to find upon reawakening from a year and a half long alcoholic spree that those were the very things he wanted most. He wanted his daughter and his wife back. Charlie would reflect back upon his wife remembering what he had done (Mizner 315). Memor...

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